New hobbyist in NY starting to CLA Exakta camera bodies

[peretzmatthew]

I don't know exactly why I chose Exaktas - maybe it's the pictures of them I've seen over the years - sort of that art deco look and I learned that they were the first real 35mm SLR system - and I learned that basic bodies could be purchased relatively cheaply.

My therapist of all people kept saying my face lights up when I talk about my Leica IIIf RD or my Afga Record III and suggested I get an Exakta and see if I could CLA it.

Jurgen Kreckel also encouraged me.

I've been out of work , struggling, for 3 years and while I may go back to school in the Fall to study computer security and forensics my first love has always been and remains the super well-built camera bodies that simply don't exist anymore.

I can't even find an Exakta forum even though there are some listed in printed materials - but those sites/forums don't exist as far as I can tell.

I bought 3 bodies - a Varex IIa, Varex IIb, and a VX IIa.
I bought Miles Upton's Ultimate Exakta Repair guide.
I bought every single tool, chemical, and even this damping grease kit- - all the parts Miles Upton goes over in his repair guide.

I have yet to start my hobby.
I have one basic lens- a 50mm 3.5 Carl Zeiss Jena preset lens - and some other 135mm japanese lens that probably isn't worth $10.

I don't want to get into repairing lenses right now. It's more than a big enough project to learn (and hopefully) do well at CLA'ing the Exakta bodies.

I don't know if there is a call for them - I didn't even think of it that way. Maybe if I get good enough I could buy and sell them for a profit but it's not like it's going to provide a significant income I don't think.

I wanted to meet some people here - I don't know how this place compares to photo.net and if I should post to both forums.

I want to get either a wide angle or actually decent telephoto lens - but I have to keep costs way down.

I'd love to hear from anybody doing anything like I am here in NY...wherever you are. I'd love some $100 or less lens recommendations as well.

Mainly, I wanted to introduce myself and talk about my new hobby! I should start working on my first camera very soon - but Sunday at the latest but maybe even by tomorrow.

Thank you,
Matthew Peretz
Croton on Hudson, NY 10520

[Orio]

Welcome to the group, you choosed well, Exaktas are beautiful cameras.

[ludoo]

Welcome! If you get good at fixing Exakta bodies, yo will probably have an excellent basis to start working on other cameras. And if you keep at it, it might even become a source of income.